WHAT AILS INDIAN HOCKEY? Part I

WHAT AILS INDIAN HOCKEY ? – LACK OF PROFESSIONAL MANAGEMENT

By M.S. Balakrishnan*

This article is an analysis of what has gone wrong with the administration of the game in our country by a lover of the game.
The Analysis:

K.P.S. Gill rode to power Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) president in 1994 on the back of an accomplished, celebratory innings as Director General of Punjab Police. He was unanimously welcomed by the most affiliated units of the IHF, most of whom felt at that point of time that KPSG’s arrival would not only give a big boost to Indian hockey but possibly also bring back its lost glory – more or less as had happened with the morale of the Punjab Police cadre. After getting elected, rewarded his rival, Gufran-e-Azam, by appointing him as Senior Vice-President. This was thus seen as a bold and clever move.

At that point of time, when KPS Gill was to take over the reins of office, India had not

– Won a medal in Hockey at the Olympics for 22 years if one were to exclude the 1980 Moscow Olympics in which Germany, Netherlands etc. had not participated.

– Won a medal at the World Cup since 1975.

– Won the hockey Gold medal at the Asian Games for 28 long years.

– Or for that matter, secured a Top Three position in the Champions Trophy for 12 years

KPSG assessed the situation carefully and announced a slew of measures in his initial efforts to rejuvenate Indian Hockey. He laid stress on younger and physically more fitter players, more international exposure for the Indian teams, more astroturfs in the country as also a new coach (Cedric D’Souza) with new ideas for retaining more ball possession and less individualistic play – all during his first year in office and all based on inputs he had patiently obtained from veteran Olympians and administrators of the game – a fine beginning! India’s fifth place finish (after 12 long years) at the World Cup in Sydney in Nov/Dec 1994 was thus viewed positively in hockey circles.

This was followed by the organization of the Indira Gandhi Gold Cup in Delhi in 1995 with a huge inflow of money into the game from the Sahara Group ( before they ventured into Cricket sponsorship and the introduction of Man of the Match awards. This was again welcomed by players and officials alike and considered a feather in KPSG’s cap, even though the FIH did not approve of the so-called commercialization of the game. Soon after, the Australian team came over to play a three match test series in India and so did the Netherlands national team. KPSG had obviously come in with a big bang.

However the functioning of the IHF (if at all, it functioned) went from bad to worse due to a variety of reasons. Ad-hoc and arbitrary decision making, not holding meetings of the Executive Committee as required by the IHF constitution, frequent change of coaches etc. were unfolding symptoms. The only major redeeming feature was the Asian Games gold medal in 1998 but this was not followed through.

Domestic hockey was given the short shift and the National championships (for which a modified format was worked out by a committee) was held once in 3-4 years. Then came the over-hyped premier league —in which a lot of money was invested and through which a few officials no doubt prospered – that collapsed under its own weight due to poor planning and execution.

*Mr. M.S. Balakrishnan was former Secretary, Indian Airlines Sports Control Board, 8 players from the Gold medal winning 1998 Bangkok Asian Games hockey squad were from this board when MSB was the Secretary. KPS Gill announced his appointment as Hony. Secretary-General of the IHF after the 1998 IHF elections but retracted when a weeping Jothikumaran pleaded for his continuance. MSB was then accommodated in the IHF as Vice-President, largely a ceremonial post.

MSB was also manager for the 1998 Commonwealth Games hockey team.

Note: This is the first of the three part series, the former IHF administrator has painstakingly penned down his views exclusively for stick2hockey.com